The recent coverage of the AT&T Pebble Beach event has left a lot to be desired, with many golf fans expressing frustration and disappointment with the broadcast. The event, which is one of the most highly anticipated tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule, was expected to deliver exciting moments and dramatic finishes. However, the broadcast fell short of expectations, leaving many viewers feeling unsatisfied. This disappointing broadcast is part of a larger trend, as the PGA Tour continues to struggle with declining TV ratings. The 2024 season saw the Tour suffer a 3% loss in viewership, a stark contrast to its rivals, which experienced a significant increase of 50%. Even the season-opening event of 2025, The Sentry, saw a decline in viewership, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the PGA Tour in capturing and retaining audiences.

So has that trend continued onto the second signature event of the season? Let’s find out!

In the latest episode of The Smylie Kaufman Show on YouTube, Smylie Kaufman sat down with Charlie Hulme to discuss the recent coverage of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. During their conversation, Hulme criticized the unfortunate coverage gap that occurred during the transition from Golf Channel to CBS and said, “The unfortunate coverage gap that happens at Pebble Beach… where the seventh hole and TV slots and when they finish and sunset, that just happens to be in that 15-minute window where CBS and Golf Channel switch out”

This gap resulted in viewers missing out on crucial holes, including the seventh hole at Pebble Beach, which is widely regarded as one of the most iconic golf holes. As Hulme pointed out, “In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have that 15-minute coverage gap where you would like Golf Channel just to take it all the way up to the end.” Furthermore, Hulme noted, “It’s not the PGA Tour, so you know unless it’s like an LPGA major or you know like some other ridiculously important, I’d say Golf Channel keep it, Golf Channel keep it.”

Hulme’s criticism also underscores the importance of better coordination between Golf Channel and CBS to ensure seamless coverage of high-profile events. As Hulme emphasized, “Whatever it is, like, the answer can’t be we miss the leaders playing the seventh hole at Pebble Beach… that’s never an answer in my book.” Additionally, Hulme noted that “I think that like I’m okay with the coverage gap almost every week, but it’s this is one of those situations where whether they like let’s just if we’re gonna have a basketball game run long on CBS, let’s just have the golf coverage run long on Golf Channel.”

This highlights the need for flexibility and adaptability in broadcasting, particularly when it comes to high-profile events like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but what exactly happened?

All about the coverage gap at the Pebble Beach

The recent AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was a thrilling event, with Rory McIlroy delivering a masterful performance to take home the win. However, the tournament was not without its issues, particularly when it came to the broadcast coverage. The dreaded “coverage gap” reared its head once again, leaving viewers frustrated and missing out on crucial holes, including the dramatic 6th and 7th holes at Pebble Beach. This gap is not only annoying but also highlights the need for better coordination between Golf Channel and CBS to ensure seamless coverage of high-profile events.

The coverage gap issue is not new, and it’s surprising that it still persists. As @NoLayingUp tweeted, “There’s just no way this is happening in 2025.” The fact that viewers missed out on key moments in the tournament is unacceptable, and it’s something that the PGA Tour and its broadcast partners need to address urgently. As McIlroy noted, a win like his at Pebble Beach should be good for the Tour, but it’s hard to build momentum when viewers are left feeling frustrated and disconnected from the action. It’s time for the PGA Tour to take a hard look at its broadcast strategy and find a way to eliminate the coverage gap once and for all.